Mosaic Valentine Heart- Submitted by Sherry

It's completely up to the creator in this craft. You decide how easy or challenging it will be, and how long it will take. All you need are some old magazines, construction paper, and glue and you can make these fun Valentine hearts!

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Valentine Crown- Submitted by Christi

Construction paper (white and red), scissors, glue

Cut a 2 inch wide strip of red paper long enough to fit around your head. Tape the ends together. Cut two more strips of paper, each 1inch wide and 12 inches long. Fold one strip in half and make a 2 inch cut in the center. Glue that strip from one side of the headband to the other.

Glue the second strip on so that the band is divided into quarters. Tuck and glue the center of the second strip into the cut of the first. Cut a heart and glue into the center. Decorate the crown with hearts cut from white paper.

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Hearts Art Activity- Submitted by Sherry

Have children choose a friend and paint opposite hands of each child. The children place their hands down on paper overlapping in the shape of a heart. You can then write "___ and ___ are friends".

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Scented Valentines- Submitted by Becce

Construction Paper, Scissors, Markers, crayons, Glue or Stapler, Cotton Balls, Perfume

Take 2 pieces of construction paper and cut out 2 very large hearts at the same time. The large the hearts the better. Decorate the one side of each Valentine. Spray perfume on cotton balls. Staple or glue around edges of hearts, leaving an opening at the point. Stuff the cotton balls inside. Seal the opening. Use as decoration anywhere!

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Valentine Wreath- Submitted by Becce

Styrofoam Wreath, Red Cellophane Paper, Construction Paper (Red, Pink, White, or any color), Scissors, Glue and Tape, Yarn or Ribbon

Take Styrofoam wreath and cover with red cellophane paper. Cut out different sized hearts from the construction paper. Decorate wreath - you have several options here:

- Tie a ribbon or bow first then place hearts all around the wreath
- Use yarn wrap around the wreath, spacing can vary - the add hearts

No matter your method have fun and be creative. Great for the door.

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Laced Valentines- Submitted by Becce

Hole Puncher, Cardboard - Hearts will be cut out of these, Shoelaces, colorful ribbon, or lacey ribbon

Cut out heart from cardboard. Write or decorate valentine - (this set optional) Punch holes around outside edge of heart. Weave shoelaces or ribbons through holes. - Sometimes putting 2 or 3 colorful ribbons is really pretty, Tie ends in a bow.

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Furry Valentines- Submitted by Becce

Cardboard, Pencil, Craft glue, Cotton swab, Scissors, Red, pink, and white yarn

Draw a heart shape on cardboard and cut out. Spread glue around outside edge of heart with cotton swab. Press yarn the length of heart's diameter firmly into glue, following the glue outline around edge. Continue laying different colors of yarn side by side on glue outlines, working your way toward center. When heart is completely covered, it should reveal a pattern of graduated stripes from red through pink to white making a striking design.

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Magic Valentines- Submitted by Becce

Crayons, Paperclips, 2 Sheets of White Paper, Various Sizes of Paper Hearts, Tape

Tape hearts on 1 sheet of paper - this will keep them in place. Place 2nd sheet on top and paperclip them together. Rub the side of the crayon over the surface of the paper. Hearts will appear like "magic". This is really fun for young children

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Candy Cane Valentine Hearts- Submitted by Becce

Buy candy canes on sale now. For Valentine's unwrap them. Place two together on a cookie sheet to form a heart. Place in 350º oven and WATCH carefully. It only takes a few minutes for them to melt and fuse together. Bag in cello bags or wrap in cellophane and tie with ribbon. This makes a really cute Valentine's happy.

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Creamsicle Soaps- Submitted by Lisa in VA
What you'll need to make 5 bars of soap:

5 (4-oz) bars of unscented glycerin soap, double boiler, 25 drops orange oil, 5 drops orange food coloring, 10 Tbsp heavy whipping cream, 25 drops vanilla fragrance oil, 5 (5-oz) soap molds (available at crafts stores)

Melt the soap in a double boiler over low heat for 15 minutes until liquefied. Remove pan from heat and stir in orange oil, food coloring, cream and vanilla fragrance oil, one at a time. Pour into molds. Let harden a day. Slide out of molds. (To make Grapefruit Soap, substitute 25 drops grapefruit fragrance oil for orange oil, 5 drops green food coloring for orange food coloring and omit vanilla fragrance oil.)

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Valentine's Day Candy Bouquet- Submitted by Sherry

If you are looking for a cute Valentine's Day gift to make for someone you love, consider making them a Valentine's Day Candy Bouquet! With just the right candies and poem, you have something that is sure to make him or her smile!

Large terra cotta pot, Paints (pink, red, white, etc.), Floral foam, Floral picks or wooden shish-kabob skewers, Candy: Sugar Baby, Snickers Bar, Bit-O-Honey, Good and Plenty, 5th Avenue, Pay Day, Mounds, Almond Joy, Hugs and Kisses, Now and Later, GooGoo Cluster, Carefree chewing gum and a 100 Grand Bar.

Optional: Artificial flowers, baby breath, Valentines fabric, potting soil, excelsior, etc.

Paint pot in cute Valentine's Day colors. Let dry. Place floral foam inside of the base of the pot. Either tape or insert the skewers into the candy. Arrange skewered candies in the pot, with the candy sticking up much like flowers in a pot. Arrange artificial flowers and/or baby's breath around the candy. If you wish, you can also arrange some cute Valentine's Day fabric on top of the floral foam or cover with potting soil or excelsior.

Attach the following poem to the arrangement:

My Dearest Sugar Baby,
Happy Valentine's Day!
May this bouquet bring you a Snicker as you read my message.You are my Bit-O-Honey, you are worth more than a 100 Grand to me, I get Goo Goo eyes every time I see you. There are more stars in my eyes for you than in the Milky Way. Our Good-N-Plenty life together is like shopping on 5th Avenue on Pay Day. I know I can be Carefree with you. As you know, I love you Now and Later and I wish you Mounds of Almond Joy on this Valentine's Day.

Hugs and Kisses,
Your Name

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Valentine/Friendship Shirts- Submitted by Sherry

We have our children bring in white t-shirts. We draw a big red heart on the shirt and write our special friends. Each child then makes their thumbprint inside of the heart, if they can write their name we let them. They come out so cute, parents and kids love them.

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Valentines- Submitted by Sherry

I traced a large heart which they cut out. We then used squeeze bottles and had them drizzle red and white paint on one side, fold it over and they loved their creations when they opened it up. I then mounted them on red paper, added a little bow and they are a great door decoration. Today we cut out three size hearts, small, medium and large. Talk about the different sizes. I made 3" strips with a pipe cleaner hanger on top and they glued their heart in size order. Again, very simple but great for the threes. On Monday, I intend to have them paint on bubble wrap with red paint and press it on a piece of white or pink. After it dries, we'll cut out a large heart.

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Chocolate Kiss RoseBuds- Submitted by Christi

Get the kisses that come wrapped in red foil at Valentine's Day... They come in a package mixed silver wrapped and red wrapped. Put a silver and a red kiss base to base. Center a piece of clear plastic wrap over the tip of the red one and stretch it tight down over the kisses, gathering it at the tip of the silver kiss. Take a twelve inch piece of florist wire and twist the end around the plastic wrap to secure it. Wind with green floral tape, beginning at the twisted wire, wrap up and around silver kiss then spiral back down covering wire stem and tucking in artificial rose leaves about an inch below the bud and one or two more spaced

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Valentine Fish- Submitted by Sherry

Each child will need one very large heart, one large heart, three middle sized hearts, and one little one. The very large heart becomes the body. The large heart becomes the tail. The middle sized hearts become the fins on top of the very large heart. The little heart becomes the lips of the fish. These "Valentine Fish" make a great classroom display.

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Class Love Book- Submitted by Sherry

As a small group activity, encourage the children think of someone that they love. Students will draw these people on large sheets of construction paper. Bind the collective the art work and make a cover with the title, "Our Class Love Book". Display the class "Love Book" in the book or reading area. Visitors will enjoy seeing the collection.

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Valentine Art- Submitted by Sherry

clear contact paper, tissue paper squares of pink, red, gold, silver, various valentines, glitter, construction paper folded in half with a heart shape cut out of the middle, ribbon

Child places glitter and tissue paper on sticky side of contact paper. Fold over to seal. Place inside construction paper "frame". I punch a hole in top and child puts ribbon through hole. We hang them in the windows and they look great.

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Valentine Wreath- Submitted by Sherry

Cut out the center of a paper plate./large piece of card. Use a cookie cutter(thick card,cut into hearts) to trace heart shapes onto wrapping paper or wallpaper, and cut out. You can also cut out heart shapes from red, pink and white construction paper. Glue the hearts to the paper plate with rubber cement, or a glue stick. You can also add glitter, confetti, or ribbon.

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Valentine Bags- Submitted by Lisa in VA

Make bags for our valentines by combining two sheets of construction paper shaped like half a heart. When the two papers our glued together it looks like a heart and makes a bag. The children add a handle, decorate the outside and can carry valentines home in it.

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Valentine Holder- Submitted by Lisa in VA

2 paper plates. You use 1 as the back. Then cut 1 in half and sponge paint (or draw/decorate) a heart on the half plate. You staple the half plate to the full plate and add a handle.

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Valentine Boxes- Submitted by Lisa in VA

This is a project where I involve parents! About 3 weeks ahead of the time that I want the boxes in my classroom, I ask parents to save cereal boxes, shoe boxes, kleenex boxes, etc. and ask them to use this time to create ideas to decorate their own childs box with their childs help. They can cover the box with a grocery bag and draw pictures if they don't have money to buy dollies, cards, candy,etc. to glue on them. They can use the comics from the newspaper. The only (main) thing that I ask besides having their child involved is to leave a slit on the top and write the childs name (on the top) legibly because my students have to put their own cards in their friends boxes.

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Cute Valentine- Submitted by Lisa in VA

You take a white heart and place a smaller red heart in the middle! Around the red heart the child makes his thumb prints all the way around the middle heart. Write at the top."Thumbody loves you"

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Valentine Hearts Mobile- Submitted by Patrisha

Red, white, pink and/or purple construction paper, White glue, Length of string, ribbon, or yarn, Scissors

The easiest way to make symmetrical hearts is to fold the construction paper in half. You will need to cut out AT LEAST the following:
2 very large hearts, 2 large hearts, 2 medium hearts, 2 small hearts

However, there are many ways to combine the hearts for whatever look you like. You may want to cut out a variety of sizes and glue them together for a layered look. At the very minimum though, take each of the heart pairs and glue them back to back with the string/yarn in between. Leave a space between each pair on the string/yarn. Then you can decorate each pair of hearts any way you like. Glue on several layers of many different size hearts. Decorate with bits of ribbon or candy hearts. Hang from the ceiling or on a wall. If you want to give this to mom as a gift, wrap a few candy kisses in plastic wrap and tie them to the bottom of the string/yarn.

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Tissue Paper Hearts- Submitted by Patrisha

Red, white, pink or purple construction paper, White glue, Crayons or colored pens, Scissors, Squares (1" x 1") of tissue paper, A pencil

Cut the tissue paper into small squares. Draw a large heart shape on your piece of construction paper. Cut it out if you want. Pour a small amount of glue onto a plastic lid or piece of newspaper. Place the pencil eraser in the middle of one of the squares of tissue paper. Wrap the tissue paper around the end of the pencil - allow it to wrinkle. Dip the end of the pencil/tissue paper into the glue, then press it down on the construction paper. Lift the pencil out gently, leaving the tissue paper on the heart. Continue in this way until you have your heart completely decorated. You can work in rows, using different colored tissue paper, or just place the tissue on any way you want.

NOTE: If you want to put something in the center of your heart, like we did here, we recommend gluing or drawing it BEFORE you start placing your tissue squares. It's much easier that way.

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Treasure Jar- Submitted by Lisa in VA

Here's another take on the "Treasure Jars" with an inspirational twist. And a new variation of the same for just a cute gift tag for a gift of bath salts, massagers and, foot lotions and rubs...or whatever suits you In a jar of birdseed place a penny, wooden spool, rubber band, tack, safety pin, flower(eraser),marble, smiley face, heart, star, button and paper clip. Paint lid your choice of colors and using an opaque white or permanent black marker write, on the painted lid*. Make a tag with one of the following poems on it, tie it on with ribbon or raffia. ..And you have a cute gift.

#1- You are God's creation there's really none like you. So when you're under pressure, here's what you need to do. Find the hidden items within this jar of seeds, take time to pray and rest, and you'll feel refreshed, indeed!

OR #2- You are God's creation, there's really none like you. So, when those stresses come, Here's what you need to do. Count your many blessings, and recount them, one by one. You will see His love for you through all that He has done.

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"Heart"-Tac-Toe- Submitted by Lisa in VA

crafts using felt: make "Heart"-Tac-Toe games for each child Cut 5-inch squares from red felt using pinking shears, and sew around three edges, leaving the top open. Draw a white glossy tic-tac-toe grid on the front of the red pouch with a tube of fabric paint. Cut small hearts to fit within the grid -- five pink and five white. The hearts are stored inside the pouch. The kids love them!

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Heart Shaped Book- Submitted by Lisa in VA

______ loves _________. Have the child fill in his/her name and what he/she loves. Put a picture of the child next to his/her name, so the names can be reread easily by the children. Have them illustrate their sentence.

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"Thank You" Valentine Book- Submitted by Lisa in VA

I cut out two large (about 15 inches) hearts from stiff red tag board and a bunch of paper hearts just slightly smaller. On the front tag heart, I print "Thank you children" I usually decorate the front and back pieces with old cards I've saved (from older students or my own two children's stash of cards) or stickers. I laminate the front and back pieces of tag so they hold together and last longer.

On each of the paper hearts, I print Thank you, ____ (putting in the child's name) and glue on the card they gave to me. Staple these into the cover and you have a book that acknowledges each child's card, shows them off to their friends, gives the predictable/repetative pattern of Thank you ... to read and adds another book to your collection.

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Valentine ABC Book- Submitted by Lisa in VA

Each child or pair of children will create an animal or object for every letter of the alphabet, with pre-cut valentines...ex. a Valentine apple, a Valentine bear, a Valentine camel

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Valentine Bag/Box- Submitted by Lisa in VA

Make there valentines bags or boxes and put a picture and name of the child on the bag so that they can put there vaentines into the right bag and PRETEND to be reading

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Valentine Mail Truck-- Submitted by Lisa in VA

February is our transportation unit, so we make valentine vans--they look like mail jeeps (we're rural, that's how our mail is delivered) I hang them on a clothesline and the kids just put the cards in when they bring them ---- to do this use either shoe boxes orrrr two Rectangles One is kept as a rectangle . Cut the corner off of one corner on the other Rectangle. Glue this on to the rectangle that is whole as if it was an envelope. Then glue the strips of red and blue on the bottom. The strips are big enough to cover a third of the white paper. This way you end up with a red white and blue truck. Last glue the child's picture in the corner. I use this on my bulletin board until the big day!

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Mail Jeeps- Submitted by Lisa in VA

I got these idea from a conference I went to along time ago. I use white paper cut into a square with the corner cut out. Then the children put a red and blue stripe at the bottom. Then we glue their pictures in the corner as if they were driving. Also, instead of putting names on the outside of the val. envelope. I send home a sheet which has all the childrens pictures on it. The cut them out and put them on the envelope for easy distrubution!

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Candy Wreaths- Submitted by Becce

Choose individually wrapped candies that have twist ties on each end like Tootsie Rolls or Bubble Gum. You will need approximately 3 pounds of candy for a 6-8 inch wreath. Foil wrappers are the easiest to work with. Craft stores have inexpensive gold rings often used to make dream catchers or you can cut your own wire and use pliers to connect the ends.

Next cut a 2-3 foot strand of curling ribbon. Tie one end of the ribbon to the end of your wire form. Loop your ribbon over your wire to create a small hole where you will add the candy wrapper ends. Without pulling the ribbon tight, use you other hand to loop your ribbon over the bottom end of the first loop to create a tying method that works like a running loop stitch.

Start with one piece of candy wrapper ends put in the loop and pulled tight, then add two at once. Push the pieces tightly against the first candy. The wax on the curling ribbon will help hold each piece in place so that it is not necessary to tie a complete knot. The candies will automatically spin around the wire for a full 3 dimensional look. Leave a 2 inch gap of wire showing.

After the candy is tied on add a big ribbon to cover up the metal hook closure or 2 inch gap. This may seem time consuming but I have made over 30 myself and after awhile you can complete a 5" wreath in about 20 minutes! Be sure and keep your wreath out of the heat. Candy pieces can be taken off carefully leaving the papers on the wreath to keep it looking nice even when the candy is being eaten.

For Valentines use individually wrapped cinnamon bears, red gumballs in clear wrap or tootsie rolls are very cute when you add a red, brown and white plaid ribbon to the top. Tie in gift certificates rolled up or use miniature samples of body lotion on ribbons to hang in the center of the wreath

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Valentine's Day Card- Submitted by Christi

Prepare a big red heart with a smaller heart in the middle of it with "I Love You" written on the smaller heart. Have children sit in a chair and hold the heart in front of them. Take an individual close-up picture of each child. Then have the children make the following card.

Red construction paper, White construction paper or white doily, Glue Poem (from below)

Directions:

Fold red construction paper in half. Cut out a white heart or use a white doily and glue on the front of the card. Then glue the following poem on the front of the card.

Someone loves you
Do you know who?
Take a look inside and see
The one who loves you is me!

Inside the card glue the picture of the child that you took with the heart.

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Ideas on Making Valentines- Submitted by Christi

Materials you can use to Valentines:

Glitter, Crayons, Pens, Colored Pencils, Markers, Paint, Lace, String, Yarn, Ribbon, Paper Doilys, Tissue Paper, Torn Paper, Heart Shaped Paper, The Holes from a hole Punch, Stickers, Sand, Twine, Old Puzzle Pieces, Buttons, Colored Glue, Colored Tape, Chalk, Wet Chalk, Wrapping Paper, Stamps, Aluminum Foil, Heart Shaped Confetti, Glue on Candy Confections, Heart Shaped Sponge Painting, Pasta or rice colored with red food coloring.

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More Valentine Art Ideas- Submitted by Christi

Make the Valentine Heart Shaped
Cut the Edges with special scissors that have a funny shape.
Make a Valentines Card
Have pre-written poems for the children to glue on their Valentine, let the children choose the poem they like the best.
Make the card out of the paper doily, heart shaped.
Let the children write a poem for the inside.
Let the children write a special message, or have the child tell you what to write.
Use bleeding tissue paper on white paper. Have the children place small pieces of tissue paper on the paper. Have them add water with a paint brush. Allow to dry, and peel off the paper.

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Valentine Poems For Cards- Submitted by Christi

Roses are Red,
Violets are Blue,
Sugar is sweet,
and so are you.

I think you are nice
I think you are fine,
Won't you please be my
Valentine?

Love Somebody,
Yes I do,
Love Somebody,
Can you guess who?

I love you (fill in the blank)
Yes I do
I will love you this year,
And next year too.

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Red, Pink and White Art- Submitted by Christi

Let children make pictures using, the colors listed above with markers, crayons or paint.

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Heart Fun- Submitted by Christi

Have the children cut out heart shapes and write cute little sayings on them, like "I Love You" or "Be Mine"

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Heart Rubbings- Submitted by Christi

Cut heart shapes from paper doilys or sandpaper. Tape these hearts to the table. Have the children place a piece of thin white paper over the hearts and rub a crayon over the heart.

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Valentine Mailboxes- Submitted by Christi

Have the children supply a small shoebox for this project. Cut a small slit in the top for the Valentines to go in. Then have the children decorate the box with some of the items that are listed above in the materials section.

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Creating The Color Pink- Submitted by Christi

Ask the children what colors you need to make pink. Then supply them with red and white paint and white paper. Ask the children to mix the colors to get their  favorite shade of pink. Discuss how all the colors of pink are a little different.

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Heart Shapes- Submitted by Christi

You can show older children how to make hearts by folding a piece of paper in half and drawing an ice cream cond along the folded edge and cutting it out. Let the children try cutting hearts out of pink, white and red paper.

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Shaving Cream Art- Submitted by Christi

Add a drop of red food coloring to a baseball sized pile of shaving cream. Mix this with a paint brush. Have the children be very careful, and use smocks because the food coloring will stain their clothing and hands. Have the children paint the shaving cream on a white piece of paper.

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Heart Shaped Potato Prints- Submitted by Christi

Cut a large potato in half. You will need a heart shaped cookie cutter that will fit on the potato half. Press the cookie cutter into the flat side of the potato. Then, using a knife, cut the potato around the outside of the cookie cutter, leaving a heart shaped potato stamp. Supply the children with the potato stamps, different colored paints, and paper. Have the children dip the potatoes in the paint and press them firmly onto the paper. If the potatoes are not cut evenly the shapes will not appear clearly.

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Heart Necklaces- Submitted by Christi

Supply the children with heart shaped beads and yarn. You child also have the children cut out heart shapes from construction paper. Then, have them use a hole punch to make a hole, so they can thread them onto a piece of yarn.

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A Valentine Butterfly- Submitted by Christi

Popsicle stick, Glue, Construction Paper, Marker, Pipe Cleaner, Tape

Cut out 2 red hearts, about the height of the popsicle stick, from the construction paper. Cut the bottoms off the hearts and tape the bottom edges together. Glue the popsicle stick to the opposite side of the hearts as the tape. Add a mouth and eyes to the popsicle stick and decorate the butterfly, you could add a Valentine's message if wanted. Cut the pipecleaner and tape it to the back of the popsicle stick as the antenna. It could be a Love Bug, or you could say "My heart flutters for you..."

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Valentine Playdough- Submitted by Christi

Make 2 batches of playdough-1 red and 1 white. Each child gets a small ball of each and they mix them together to discover how PINK is made. Give them Heart shaped Cookie cutters to use!

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Smelly Valentines- Submitted by Christi

Paper Glue Cotton Balls Perfume Cut out 2 large hearts the same size for each child. Have each child decorate a pair. Spray perfume on cotton balls. Have the children glue around edges of hearts, but leave an opening. Stuff the cotton balls inside. Seal the opening. Mmm!

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Magic Hearts- Submitted by Christi

Have parents write a "secret" message on a white construction paper heart with a white crayon--(taken home & returned by Valentines Day). Ask them to press hard. Then have the children paint the hearts pink or red. The magic message will appear...

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Heart People- Submitted by Christi

Construction Paper, Scissors, Glue

Cut out a heart (large) and glue on hearts for eyes, nose & mouth. Attach paper strips, folded accordion style, for arms and legs and trace childs hands and feet and attach to the accordion strips.

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Valentines Gift- Submitted by Christi

Construction Paper, Scissors, Red Tempera Paint, Glue, Misc. craft Supplies

Cut various shaped hearts from white and pink construction paper. Using red tempera paint, decorate the hearts with children's thumbprints. Set hearts aside to dry. On a 4 1/2 by 8 1/2 inch paper write out "Thumb-ody Loves You", and tape the paper to an empty 12oz juice can. Glue a painted heart to the can, then glue the remaining hearts to popsicle sticks. Press a small amount of clay into the bottom of the can, then tuck a small amount of red tissue into the can, and then insert the sticks through the paper and into the clay.

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Valentines Wreaths- Submitted by Christi

Construction Paper, Scissors, Paper Plates, Glue, Yarn or Ribbon

Cut out different sized, smaller hearts from red and pink paper ( a whole bunch of them ). Then cut the middle out of a paper plate and glue the hearts all over the plate to make a valentine wreath. Make bows with some yarn or ribbon.

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Valentine Marble Painting- Submitted by Sherry

Use a heart candy box bottom, cut paper to fit inside the box, dip marbles into pink and red paint. Drop marble into the box and let the child twist and turn the box. Add snowflake glitter. They are really beautiful. And the kids love to do it.

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Valentine Day Postcard- Submitted by Sherry

Cut out red construction paper in the size of a standard postcard. Allow the kids to decorate one side using crayons, paints, and pre- cut hearts in white, pink and red. One the back of the construction paper glue a plain piece on white paper. Draw a line down the middle with a heart felt verse on the left side and the address of who you would like to send it to. Stick a stamp on and toss it in the mail! I have a daycare in my home and we sent one to all of the parents at their place of work. The parents loved it, even the Dads!! Great for Grandparents and Auntie's and Uncle's too!

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I Love You To Pieces Picture Frame- Submitted by Sherry

Picture of each child, Picture frame puzzle pieces, Elmer's glue, Foam letters to spell I Love You To Pieces

Take pictures and developed them prior to making this project. First the children glue puzzle pieces on to the picture frame they then glue on the foam pieces saying "I Love You To Pieces", after drying, place each photos in, wrap them in tissue paper tie them up with a ribbon and give them to the parents as valentines gifts.

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Kisses- Submitted by Sherry

Make a pattern of a chocolate kiss candy and wrap w/ tinfoil. Make enough for every child. Take white tissue paper and write the child's name on it and glue on the kiss. You or the children can cut out small hearts of pink, white and/or red to put around the kisses. Title: ________(Person's name) Favorite Sweets.

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Don't "Hog" All the Hugs, There Are Plenty For Everyone!- Submitted by Sherry

Have your children paint both a large and small paper plate pink. After the plates are dry, glue the plates together with a little bit overlapping. Give the children 1/4 piece of pink paper and 1/2 piece black paper. Tell them to cut 2 triangles and a circle out of the pink paper. This will be the ears and the nose of the pigs. Have them fold their black paper in half and then half again and cut a "W" shape. When they have cut that they will have four pig feet. Then have them cut two small black circles for the nose. Glue on wiggly eyes and draw a mouth. Give them 1/2 of a pink pipe cleaner and show them how to curl it around a pencil. Tape it on as the tail. Have your children make heart valentines to place around the pigs for a really cute Valentine bulletin board!

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3-D Hearts- Submitted by Sherry

Have the children cut three hearts the same size and fold them in half. Glue the hearts together and decorate them with glitter. Use a hole punch to put a hole in the top and hang around the room.

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I Love Book- Submitted by Sherry

Prepare a heart shaped book with four or five pages inside. The children can draw pictures of people and things they love.

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Valentine Cards- Submitted by Becce

Construction Paper, Glue, Pen , Pencil, or Crayon, Gum

Cut out heart shapes from paper. On the Heart, tape a piece of gum and write this poem...

I love you,
I love you,
I love you divine,
Please give me your bubblegum,
Cuz you're SITTING ON MINE!!

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Sponge Painting- Submitted by Sherry

Cut sponges into heart shapes, use red, pink and white paint to create a valentine's picture.

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Lacing Hearts- Submitted by Sherry

Cut a heart shape and use a hole punch to put holes around the heart. Attach a string or red wool for the children to lace.

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Cutting Hearts- Submitted by Sherry

Trace hearts on paper of different sizes. Let the children practice their cutting skills. Older children will love cutting folded hearts without your line to follow. Collage with the hearts.

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Valentine Holder- Submitted by Sherry

Cut a paper plate into a heart shape. Use the bottom half of a second paper plate to make a pocket. Decorate with valentine stickers or markers.

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Stuffed Heart- Submitted by Sherry

This activity is for four and five year olds, however they will still need one on one attention during the sewing. Cut two felt hearts. Using white or pink wool start to sew around the edges. Before sewing all the way around stuff the heart, then complete sewing.

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Heart Necklace- Submitted by Sherry

Make a heart shaped pendant using dough and a cookie cutter. Use a straw to put a hole in the top for stringing later. Bake or let set until hard and paint. You may want to apply two coats of paint and then some Podgy to make it shiny. String onto a piece of red wool long enough for a necklace.

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String Painting- Submitted by Sherry

Cut a heart shape and fold it in half. Open the fold and use valentine colors to string paint. When the painting is complete fold the heart in half and press together, then open up to see the beautiful designs.

TIP: I like to attach strings to clothes pins for easier handling.

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Pop up Valentine Card- Submitted by Sherry

Cut two card sized pieces of construction paper, one white and one red. The white piece will be the outside of the card. On the front print "On this Valentine's Day". Add a cupid or heart shape to the front of the card. Fold the red piece in half and trace a heart shape. This will be on the fold of the card. Cut the heart shape almost all the way around to the bottom. Glue the red and white pieces together except on the heart part. On the inside of the card print "My heart goes out to you" When you open the card the heart will pop out.

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Valentine Envelope- Submitted by Sherry

Use a non-frosted pop-tart and let the children spread their own white icing on top. Next allow the children to find and place letters of their own names on top of the pop-tart by using Alpha-bits cereal. The last step is to place a Valentine heart candy on the top right corner of the pop-tart. The end result should resemble an envelope!

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Valentine Tree- Submitted by Sherry

Stick a small, bare branch into a flower fop weighted with sand, pebbles, or play dough. Trim the tree with tiny hearts the children have cut out and decorated and hang them on strings or threads.

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Finger Painting- Submitted by Sherry

Make a red finger painting. After it is dry cut it into a heart shape and paste it to black construction paper.

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Stained Glass Heart- Submitted by Sherry

Have the children grate pink, red, and white crayons onto waxed paper. Adult presses waxed paper with warm iron to melt crayon shavings. Allow to cool. Cut out a heat shape from the center of construction paper. Attach the waxed paper behind the heart shaped hole. Or, cut the waxed paper in the shape of a heart, punch a hole in top, put string through hole and hang as a mobile.

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Tissue Paper Heart- Submitted by Sherry

Have children cut heart from construction paper. Crumple small squares of red and pink tissue paper and glue to heart. Or draw large heart on poster board and have the children do the same.

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Potato Prints- Submitted by Sherry

Cut a potato in half. Carve a heart shape out of each end. Dip in red paint and print on white paper.

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Sparkle Paint- Submitted by Sherry

Cut out a jumbo heart from easel paper. Mix kosher salt into red, white and pink paint. Paint heart.

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Magnets- Submitted by Barb

Use plaster of Paris or any dough that hardens. Pour into candy size paper baking cups. Let harden. Paint like a piece of candy. Glue a magnet strip on the back.

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Mouse- Submitted by Barb

Cut a large heart shape from construction paper. Glue a small length of yarn for a tail at the top of the heart but let it hang off of the heart. Fold in half like a teardrop. Stuff with a little cotton. Glue edges of heart shut all around. Tail should be hanging out. Cut a small heart for his ears. Fold heart in half. Glue on rounded part of big heart so they form an ear on each side. Add whiskers, eyes, and a little pink nose.

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Pasta Fun- Submitted by Barb

Dye different shaped pasta in food coloring and rubbing alcohol. Use shades of red and pink and then string or glue onto a heart shaped paper.

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Contact Paper Fun- Submitted by Barb

Cut a heart shape out of the middle of a paper plate. You will need the paper plate, not the heart shape. Cover the back of the plate with a piece of contact paper. Sticky side facing the front of the plate. Have a variety of cake sprinkles, ribbons, confetti, etc. for the kids to choose and decorate the sticky part of the contact paper.

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Valentine Cards- Submitted by Barb

Hang onto the advertisements from the Sunday paper and special inserts that have valentines day sales. Have the kids cut out valentines related pictures, and glue them onto a big red heart, or make them into valentines cards (fold a piece of construction paper in half and let them at it). You should be able to find pictures of flowers, boxes of candy shaped in hearts, etc.

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Puffy Hearts- Submitted by Barb

Cut out hearts from a paper bag. Cut two of each, and have the kids glue them together, leaving a small opening. Stuff the heart with fiber fill or Kleenex or fabric scraps, then glue the opening shut (don't stuff too much). Have the kids decorate with fabric scraps, old lace pieces, cutouts from doilies, ribbon, stickers, glitter, sequins, etc. If you make enough of these, and not too big, you can hot glue them to a cheap wreath and make a valentines wreath! Add a bow, some ribbon or raffia, and some valentines day pics to finish the look.

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Recycled Hearts- Submitted by Barb

Cardboard, wax paper, red tissue paper, string, glue, cooking oil, one hole punch, paint brush

Cut the cardboard into a heart shaped frame. Cut out a wax paper to fit the frame. Tear tissue paper into small pieces (approx. inch square). Brush a generous amount of cooking oil over wax paper heart. Place tissue paper pieces on the oil until wax paper heart is completely covered. Glue tissue heart into the cardboard frame. Punch a hole at the top of the heart. Tie with a string for hanging.

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Valentine Sticker Collage- Submitted by Barb

Cut big red hearts out of construction paper.
Give children Valentine stickers to put on the heart.

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Valentine Collage- Submitted by Barb

Each child has a piece of contact paper taped to the table. Provide them with Valentine tissue paper (red, white, and pink), ribbons (red, white, and pink), bows, paper hearts (red, white, and pink), pom poms (red, white, and pink), feathers (red, white, and pink), etc. to put on their collage.

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Hanging Valentine- Submitted by Barb

Make 2 huge hearts and let the children decorate them as desired. Staple edges together, leaving an opening, and stuff with scrap paper or newspaper. Staple edge completely. Streamers (pink, red, and white) can be attached to the bottom, a string or ribbon on top, and hang them up.

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Valentine Bracelet- Submitted by Barb

Make the bracelet from a strip of construction paper. Glue small hearts on the paper or use cute valentine stickers. Staple or glue the strip to fit over the child's wrist.

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Sponge Heart Prints- Submitted by Barb

Give each child a large heart cut from glossy paper and let them use a heart shaped sponge to paint heart prints on the paper.

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Heart Headband- Submitted by Barb

Make a headband out of heavy paper for each child. Trace 2 heart cookie cutters onto pink or red construction paper for each child and let the children color and cut them out. Tape them to pipe cleaners to make antennae and attach to headband.

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Heart Rubbings- Submitted by Barb

Cut out different sizes of hearts from sandpaper. Tape hearts to table and lay a sheet of white typing paper over them. Use side of crayon to lightly rub over hearts, making a pattern on paper.

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Heart Straw- Submitted by Barb

Trace and cut out heart from colored paper. Use a hole pinch and make 2 hole in center of heart, not side by side, but one under the other, about an inch or two apart. Thread a drinking straw into one hole and back out the other

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Heart Flowers- Submitted by Barb

Red, pink and green construction paper, Glue, Scissors, Tongue depressors Markers

Cut out hearts (either red or pink) for the flower. Cut out two smaller green hearts for the leaves. Glue the flower to the top of the tongue depressor and the leaves to the middle of the tongue depressor. Draw a face on the flower and give as a gift to your favorite valentine! You can also collect all the hearts and place them in a vase for a centerpiece for a Valentine's Day party. When the party is over, the children may take their heart flowers home.

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Valentine Mailboxes- Submitted by Barb

Red construction paper, Shoe boxes (one per child), Paper scraps, Valentine Stickers, Anything to decorate the outside of shoe box

Teacher glues red construction paper on the shoe boxes ahead of time. The children decorate their shoe box any way they want to with stickers, paper scraps, or whatever is available. The mailboxes are for putting in the Valentines each child receives. Teachers can put treats in as well.

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Valentine Heart Mobile- Submitted by Barb

Yarn (different lengths), Wire Hangers, Construction Paper Hearts, Glitter, Markers, Stickers

Teachers precut hearts. Children decorate them as they wish. Attach hearts to wire hanger (older children do this themselves, younger children have teacher do this).

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Valentine Holder- Submitted by Barb

Styrofoam plates (cut one in half), Stapler, Hole Punch, Colored Yarn, Kids Plastic Sewing Needle

Turn 1/2 plate upside down on the full plate. Staple in 2 - 3 spots around the edge to keep it from slipping. Hole punch through both plates all around the sides the 2 plates touch. This will be sewing holes for older pre-k's to sew. Show them how to sew their plates together and then decorate with stickers or whatever. Hang them up with ribbon and use them as mailboxes

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Valentine Mail Vest- Submitted by Barb

Brown grocery bag, Scissors, Glue, Red paint, Pencil, White tissue

Cut a brown paper bag along the seam. Then cut the bottom out so that you have a long strip of brown paper. Fold the strip in half and cut a neck hole at the fold and a 4-inch slit down the back. The bag should now fit over your head like a vest, with half the bag in front of you and half in back of you. Fold the two front, bottom corners of the bag up and in to form the bottom point of a heart. Glue them together. This will form the pocket for your valentine mail. Sketch the top part of the heart on the vest. Then paint the entire heart red.

When the paint has dried, outline the heart with white glue and stick bits of shredded tissue around it like lace.

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Valentine Puppet- Submitted by Barb

Red construction paper, Scissors, Glue, 4 Large rubber bands, Markers

Cut two hearts of the same size from red construction paper. Make them bigger than your hand. Cut 4 1 inch hearts from the red paper for the puppet's hands and feet. Cut each of the rubber bands so that they form elastic strings. Glue the rubber bands to the sides and bottom of one of the large hearts to form the arms and legs of the puppet.

Glue the tops of the two large hearts together with the ends of the rubber bands between them. Leave the bottom part open to slip your hand in. Glue a small heart to the end of each elastic arm and leg. When the puppet has dried completely, draw a face with markers.

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Poem and Hand Gift- Submitted by Barb

Place handprints made from colorful non toxic hand paint on white poster board paper of your choice of size. Write poem to one side of poster board before you put the prints all around it. Or you may choose to put the poem in the middle of posterboard. Let masterpiece dry overnight. Have fun and give as a gift to a mother, father, grandparent. Be sure to put childs age on paper and their full name. Write with typing or your own handwriting for a special home made touch.

Once Upon A Time
Not so long ago
I was small and that is so
Tiny fingers, little feet
Marching to a musical beat
Humming tunes, exploring the world around
Sleeping sweetly with hardly a sound
Screaming, crying, learning from falls
Playing with toys and baby dolls
And as I grow you will remember and see
That Once Upon A Time, these prints were me

Poem by Lori A. Henson

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Heart Pins- Submitted by Barb

Paint clothes pins (the type that clip) red. Then glue a foam heart, with their name in 3-d foam paint, onto each clothes pin.

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Heart Sucker- Submitted by Barb

Ct hearts out of fun foam. Then apply glue and sprinkles glitter over the heart. Then attach a sucker to the back of each one. Simple and easy for most all age groups.

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Valentine Big Card- Submitted by Barb

You buy a regular size piece of posterboard and fold it in half so that it looks like a giant sized card. You'll need other items such as candy bars and markers and any other decorative items like glitter, etc... You basically write your own Valentine's day card putting candy bars into your sentences. For example: To my SUGAR DADDY for Valentine's day, or I love you to REESE'S PIECES. You just place the candy bar in place of the word.

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Valentine Heart Pillow- Submitted by Barb

felt or material , scissors, lace, fabric paint, sewing supplies, and stuffing.

Cut 2 heart shapes out of felt or fabric and decorate with lace. Use fabric paint to write "I Love You" on one side. Sew the two pieces together-before you finish leave a gap to stuff.

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Lace Heart- Submitted by Barb

lace, florists wire, and a bow.

Thread one inch of lace on florist's wire 14 inches long, then bend in the shape of a heart and add a bow.

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Valentine's Day Card- Submitted by Barb

Make a card with doilies, construction paper, glitter, markers, etc. Fold a piece of construction paper in half and cut a half heart with the seam being the middle. Open and you have a perfectly even heart which you can decorate and put a love or friendship message in.

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Heart Pencil Tip Decoration- Submitted by Barb

pencil, scissors, plastic canvas, yarn and big needle.

Cut 2 small heart shapes out of the plastic canvas-about an inch big. Thread with yarn. When done connect the two with a gap big enough at the bottom to fit on top of the pencil.

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Heart Puzzle- Submitted by Barb

construction paper, glue, cardboard, markers

Make a heart out of construction paper. Glue it onto a piece of cardboard. Write a message or make a picture. Cut out the cardboard the exact size of the heart into various puzzle pieces.

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Valentine Totes- Submitted by Sherry

Valentine's Day cards will arrive home safely with this easy-to-make tote! To make one, place a 12" x 18" sheet of clear Con-Tact paper on a table, adhesive side up. Have a child place tissue paper heart shapes on the adhesive side of the Con-Tact paper. Next, cut an 11" x 18" sheet of Con-Tact paper. Center it over the first sheet of Con-Tact paper and then place it on the paper adhesive side down. Next, fold the Con-Tact paper in half to 12" x 9" and pinch the sides to seal the edges. If desired, staple each side for added reinforcement. Punch holes at the top of the tote and then thread a length of yarn or ribbon through the holes to create a handle. What a terrific tote for a tot!

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Valentines Day Placemats- Submitted by Becce

Gather up old Valentines cards, cut out the pictures and glue them onto red construction paper in a collage fashion. Cover placemat with clear contact paper.

Another idea is to use fewer cards and stamp heart shapes in between the cards. To do this: Cut a potato in a half and carve a heart shape out of the potato. Dip the cut side of the potato into red paint and stamp the placemats with the hearts.

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Shaker Cards- Submitted by Barb

Craft Board - 1/8 - 1/4 inch thick lightweight foam with cardstock-type cover on both sides, Card Stock, Clear/Heavy Plastic, Glue, Crayons or Markers, Misc. Craft Supplies

Begin by cutting the craft board with an exacto knife to about 3 x 6 inch, or whatever size you want. Then get some plain card stock and cut 2 pieces the same size as the board. With the knife, cut out a heart, about 2x 2, in the center of one piece, laid it on top of the board and marked the heart, then cut it out of the board. Get a piece of clear plastic,like from a sheet protector, and cut a piece big enough to cover the cut-out with enough border for glue. Now it is ready for the kids. You should have a piece of cardstock, plain; one piece of cardstock with acut-out; one piece of clear plastic; and one piece of board with a cut-out for each child. Let the kids decorate the 2 pieces of cardstock with crayons, markers, stickers, lace, ribbon - whatever you have. When they are done, glue the plastic to the wrong side of the cardstock with the cut-out, then glue the 2 cut-out pieces together, lining up the cut-outs. Put a small handfull of metallic confetti - this one had multi-colored hearts - or anything else you might think of in the "window". Glue the back piece on to seal it in, and trim the edges if needed.

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Picture Card- Submitted by Barb

Construction Paper, Glue, Picture of Child, Paper Doily, Pen , Pencil, or Crayon

Take your construction paper, try not to fold and cut it into a heart shape, take a poloriad picture or a 1 hour photo shot of each child, take a paper lace doily and glue the picture to the doily with the lace around the picture, have the child write a cute verse, or you can write it and let them sign their name. Here are a few verses, or make up your own!

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I hope you like this picture
of me to you.

Roses are red
Violets are blue
I made this
Just for you.

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Laced Hearts- Submitted by Barb

Hole Puncher, Hearts cut out of Carboard, Shoelaces or Ribbons

Punch holes around outside edge of heart. Let children weave shoelaces or ribbons through holes. Tie ends in a bow.

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Heart Caterpillars- Submitted by Barb

Construction Paper, Glue, Crayons

Cut out hearts for the lenghth of the body (as many hearts and different colors as you like) and glue them together. You can decorate the body with little hearts or stickers. For the antena I cut a little heart and glued them on, and the eyes can be little hearts too.

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Picture Hearts- Submitted by Barb

Construction Paper, Scissors, Fabric Paint (in tubes or bottles), Picture of child

Cut out a bigger heart and cut a heart out of the center.Then write, I love you mom and dad or whatever you want. Use my tubes of fabric paints to decorate them. Then when they are dry, put the picture in the center.

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Heart People- Submitted by Barb

Construction Paper, Scissors, Glue

Cut out a heart (large) and glue on hearts for eyes, nose & mouth. Attach paper strips, folded accordian style, for arms and legs and trace childs hands and feet and attach to the accordian strips.

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Valentines Person- Submitted by Barb

Paper, Scissors, Paint, Glue

Paint the child hand red and print it on paper twice to make a heart. Cut out eyes, mouth, arms and legs and let the child glue them on the heart.

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Modge Podge Hearts- Submitted by Barb

Posterboard, Construction Paper, Scissors, Glue, Modge Podge, Picture of Child (optional)

Cut out heart shapes from heavy poster board, have kids glue red and pink (small) pieces of construction paper on hearts. If you have small pictures of kids, glue in the center of the heart. Using fingers, cover the entire heart with a thin coating of modge podge, it will dry clear and glossy. You can put magnet strips on the back.

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Valentine Bunny- Submitted by Barb

Baby Food Jars, Cotton Balls, Construction Paper, Glue, Scissors, Picture of Child (optional)

Fill baby jars with cotton balls. Cut out 1 large heart which is just a little taller and wider than the front of the jar. Cut out a med. size heart which is a about 1" larger than the base of the jar. Cut out 2 small hearts (about the size of a penny or dime). Glue large heart to the face of the jar so that the top of the heart extends beyond the top of the jar (gives the appearance of ears). Glue med. heart to the base of the jar so that the top of the heart extends beyond the front of the jar (top of heart sticking out from the base will look like feet). Glue small hearts on the sides of the jar in the middle (looks like hands). Glue a cotton ball to the back of the jar (looks like a cotton tail). **Have the kids draw the face on the large heart before gluing.

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A Valentines's Day Card- Submitted by Cindy

This Valentine's Day card sure is a keeper! To make one, have each child draw a head-and-neck outline on skin-toned construction paper. Supply each child with a 2 1/2" x 18" strip of tagboard. Have each youngster trace both of his hands and then cut on the resulting outlines. Have him glue a hand cutout to each end of a tagboard strip and then glue the strip to the bottom of the head-and-neck cutout to resemble arms. Encourage each child to color and decorate the head pattern to resemble himself and color the arms as desired. Fold the arms toward the middle, overlapping them. Program each part of the card as shown.

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Fancy Hearts- Submitted by Cindy

Delight your youngsters with decorated valentine hearts that they can make themselves. In advance, collect different sizes of empty thread spools. To decorate a heart, dip one end of a thread spool in white tempera paint. Then press the paint-covered spool repeatedly on a large heart-shaped cutout. Sprinkle clear glitter onto the wet paint. Valentines with a very special look!

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Valentine Mice- Submitted by Becce

These construction-paper mice tote along lollipops, making them the perfect Valentines to give to pint-size suckers for love.

Heavy, red construction paper, Heavy, red construction paper, Pipe cleaners, Flat lollipops, Hole punch, Pencil or pen

From red paper, cut out a bunch of hearts approximately 4 inches across. On each, draw a nose and eyes. Punch four holes above the mouse's nose. Thread a short length of pipe cleaner through the top two holes and another through the bottom two. Lastly, slip a lollipop down behind the whiskers. Valentine Candygram- Submitted by Becce

Small terra cotta pot, Valentine-themed tissue paper, Mod Podge, White pipe cleaners, Hard candy, chocolate, lollipops, etc., Small Valentine's card(s), Floral sticks, Red netting, Florist foam block (small enough to fit in center of pot)

Decoupage pot using tissue paper and Mod Podge. While it dries, make candy bouquet. Cut small squares of netting to put around lollipops. Poke lollipop through center of square and pull up around sucker. Secure with pipe cleaner. Twirl ends of pipe cleaner. Glue chocolates or other candies to floral sticks. Glue card(s) on floral sticks. Once pot is dry, place large rectangle of netting over top of terra cotta pot. Put foam block in center of pot (netting will automatically stand up). Stick lollipops and candy sticks in foam block. Start low in the front and build up to the back. To make the bouquet look full, fill in with leftover netting.

Helpful Hints: If you don't want to decoupage pot, you can add hearts cut out of Fun Foam and glue on.

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Love Bugs- Submitted by Christi

Felt, Small pom poms, Googley eyes, Sequins, Pipe cleaners, Glitter glue, White glue, Double-stick tape, Assortment of SNICKERS(r), MILKY WAY(r), TWIX(r) or 3 MUSKETEERS(r) Brand Miniatures

Decorate SNICKERS(r), TWIX(r), 3 MUSKETEERS(r) or MILKY WAY(r) Brand Miniatures with felt, googley eyes and sequins to look like adorable Love Bugs using the steps below. For antennas, glue small pom poms to the end of pipe cleaners and then glue onto a larger pom pom head. Decorate the pom pom face with colored glitter glue and googley eyes. For the wings, cut out a wing shape out of felt and decorate with glitter glue and sequins. Adhere all of the bug parts to the SNICKERS(r), TWIX(r), 3 MUSKETEERS(r) or MILKY WAY(r) Brand Miniatures by using white glue. Adhere double-stick tape to the backside of the adorable Love Bugs and stick on a mirror, refrigerator, napkin ring or a large glass bowl filled with SNICKERS(r), TWIX(r), 3 MUSKETEERS(r) or MILKY WAY(r) Brand Miniatures.

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Pretty In Pink Valentine Mailbox- Submitted by Christi

child's size shoe box, masking tape, old wallpaper book, modge podge, letter stickers, floral wire, pink curling ribbon, clear tape

Using masking tape, tape the top and bottom of the shoe box together. Using a ruler as a guide, cut a hole large enough that little ones can get their hand inside to scoop out all of their Valentine cards.

Choose pages from old wallpaper books with attractive patterns, such as gingham, stripes, or solid colors. Cut into strips. Cut out flowers, bees, hearts, or anything you like from other pages. Apply modge podge to the back of each strip and put them onto the shoe box to create a striped pattern. Accent stripes with flowers, bees, etc. When box is completely covered and dry, use large white letter stickers to put on your child's name.

Wrap a piece of floral wire with curling ribbon. Use a little modge podge to help seal it to the wire, the glue will dry clear. Punch holes in the side of the box and position the craft wire in to form a handle.

Curl pieces of ribbon and tape them to each corner of the box. Tape two near the ends of the handle as well. Apply a final coat of modge podge and allow to dry.

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Roaring Good Time Valentine Mailbox- Submitted by Christi

shoe box, yellow construction paper, cardboard paper towel tube, yellow construction paper, glue, round white paper doily, colorful heart shaped paper doily, two large wiggle eyes, black construction paper, raffia, construction paper (color to match heart shaped doily), markers, scissors

Cover shoe box and shoe box lid with yellow construction paper, glue in place. Cut a hole in the top of the box for Valentine cards.

Cut a large circle from yellow construction paper for the head. Fringe the edges with scissors. Glue the white paper doily to the yellow circle. Glue the colored heart shaped doily to the white doily. Cut small hearts from colored construction paper that matches the color of the heart shaped doily. You will need two of these for the ears, glue in place.

Cut three 6" lengths of raffia. Cut a small heart from the black construction paper, this is your nose. Glue the raffia behind the nose, and the nose to the face (as shown). Glue wiggle eyes in place. Set aside face to dry.

Cut cardboard tube into 4 equal parts. Cover each tube with yellow construction paper. Glue covered tubes to the bottom of the box for legs. You may need to reinforce these with pieces of tape.

Roll half a piece of yellow constuction paper into a thin tube to create the tail. Tape together so that it does not unravel. Fringe the end and glue the unfringed end to the back of the box, reinforce with tape if necessary.

If face is completely dry, glue to the front of the box. Using markers, decorate sides of box with child's name and anything else they would like.

When all the glue is dry on the face, glue the face to the front of the shoe box.

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Can of Hearts Valentine Mailbox- Submitted by Christi

large coffee can, white fabric or felt, red print fabric (polka dots, hearts, stripes, etc), red felt, scissors, glue, 3D fabric paint pens

Wash and dry can thoroughly. Glue white fabric or felt to the outside of the coffee can. Cut out heart shapes from the red print fabric and glue them to the white fabric or felt. Using the 3D fabric paint pens, outline each heart and write child's name on one of the hearts.

Cut out a circle from the red felt so that the felt overlaps the can lid. Glue red felt circle to the plastic lid. While the glue is drying, fringe the edges of the felt with a pair of scissors. When glue is dry, use a sharp pair of scissors or a matte knife to cut a large slit in the top of the lid large enough for the Valentine cards. Snap lid in place on top of the can.

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Handy Dandy Valentines- Submitted by Terri

Trace hands from red construction paper, cut out and glue small pink heart onto palm. Print, "Will You Be My".... on the left palm, and "Handy-Dandy Valentine?" on the right palm. Glue lace on the bottom for girls and wide ribbon and button, to look like a cuff, on the boys.

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Valentine Candle in a Teacup- Submitted by Sherry

Teacup ( we used a flowered one), matching saucer if desired, old red candles or candle wax, white birthday candles, Trims ( beads, pearls on a string, buttons, pink ribbon, heart sequins), craft glue

Pour hot water into teacups to warm them

Start by chopping the candles into chunks removing the wick. Melt the wax by putting a coffee cup in a pan of water on the stove or use a double boiler.You can also melt it in the microwave but use very short time frames 15 - 30 seconds. Let the wax melt and remove from heat.

Pour the water out of the teacups and dry thoroughly. Carefully pour the hot wax into the cups and let them set about two or three minutes until a soft covering appears on the top of the wax. Push a birthday candle into the wax and steady it until it stands up straight. You can use the old wick but this is so much easier for kids.

Glue the cup to the saucer. Add bead trims in loops around the edge. Glue sequins into the center of the flowers on your cup. We tied a bow around the base where the cup sits on the saucer. You could also glue a heart or tiny bear in the saucer too!

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Heart Bunnies- Submitted by Carol

Cut out hearts in different sizes ahead of time and have in sepatare bags or containers for easy assembly.

A large heart upside down is the body, A smaller heart upside down is the head, A long shaped heart cut in half long ways is the ears, An identical long heart shape cut in half makes the feet, A small heart cut in half makes the paws, A tiny heart or heart sticker makes the nose, two small white squares for the teeth, cottonball for the tail

Model assembling a bunny by attaching the head heart to the top of the body heart. Attach the ear heart halves to the top of the head heart. Attach the front paws to the sides of the body heart at the sides in the appropriate place. Attach the feet heart halves to the rounded bottoms of the body heart. Attach the nose heart or tiny heart sticker to the face and add small white squares for teeth, and eyes. Attach a cotton ball to the back of your gorgeous heart bunny.

To make a hanging bunny simply punch a hole between the ears and atach string or yarn.

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Valentines Heart Candles- Submitted by Terri

Beeswax Sheets - Red, Pink & White (number needed depends on the size of your candle desired), Metal heart cookie cutters (size will determine the end result of your candle size), Birthday Cake Candles (preferably the same color as the beeswax you're using but not necessary), Wooden craft stick (Popsicle stick), Clay pot, Styrofoam or floral foam, Decorations for clay pot (heart stickers, paint, etc.), Spanish moss or raffia to cover foam

I prefer to lay the beeswax sheets on the table but you may wish to use a sheet of waxed paper or cutting board to prevent sticking or staining any wood. Lay sheet of beeswax out and have child cut heart shapes out with the cutter - all one size. Cut 6 hearts out. Place 3 hearts one on top of the other. Child can apply a little pressure but mainly it is the body heat that will "meld" the hearts together. (you can also use a hair dryer on low but be careful not to over melt and misshape the hearts) Place cake candle in the center, laying down. This will become your wick. The "wick" end should stick up between the two heart cheeks. Place the craft stick just under the end of the cake candle to create a "lollipop" effect. Now place the other 3 hearts on top of the candle & craft stick. You basically create a "sandwich" of 3 hearts, candle, craft stick, 3 hearts Apply pressure and body heat to meld together.

Now you're ready to decorate your clay pot. You can decorate according the child's abilities. Younger ones will do well with stickers while older children may wish to combine stickers, paints & sparkly beads, etc. Place craft foam inside pot, cover with raffia or moss. Push heart lollipop into the foam creating a nifty valentine candle.

Don't worry.... these can be burned (under supervision and never left alone!!!). They will not burn down further than the cake candle (wick).

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Heart Flowers- Submitted by Sherry

Have the children cut out 4 hearts and glue together point side in. Add a smaller heart to the center of the flower. Tape a pipecleaner stem to the petals and add construction paper leaves.

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Valentine Candles

Glue a red heart doilie to a small Styrofoam plate, tape a package of Rolo chocolates to the center of the heart, add a Hershey's hug or kiss flame by wrapping it in yellow tissue paper and attaching it to the top of the Rolo, When done, add a pink or red ribbon with a heart attached with a valentine saying such as... "You shine the Brightest Valentine" or "You light up my life Valentine"

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Heart Necklaces- Submitted by Sherry

Have precut hearts with holes punched in the centers and fat straws cut into 2 inch pieces.. Children string the hearts onto a piece of wool with the straw pieces in between the hearts.

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Scoop of Love- Submitted by Sherry

Laundry detergent scoops (cleaned), Candy (conversation hearts or Hershey's Kisses or Hugs), Ribbon, clear wrapping, construction paper (for the tag)

Wash and dry scoops well. Fill the scoops with choice of candies, cover with clear wrap. You may wish to put the candies into a plastic baggie. Tie with ribbon and add a bow. Add a message on a heart shape tag which reads...

For conversation hearts "A scoop full of love for you from ...."

For Hershey's kisses "A scoop full of kisses ..."

For Hershey's Hugs - "A scoop full of hugs..."

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Footprint Valentine- Submitted by Sherry

red construction paper, white tempra paint, scissors, glue, purple construction paper

Place child's feet in to white paint and place on red construction paper at an angle. Do one, then the other - creating a heart shape with the 2 feet. Let dry and cut 1 inch fro each side of the red paper. Place a the purple paper behind it and staple or glue to "frame" the valentine. You can use glitter and stickers for added decoration!

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Valentine Candy Magnet- Submitted by Sherry

Empty box from heart shaped message candy, Photo of student, magnetic tape

Empty the candy from inside of the box (share it with your favorite sweetheart!) Attach the child's picture to the inside of the box (so that it is framed by the heart on the front of the box.) Attach magnetic tape to the back of the box. And there you have a cute Valentine keepsake that parents will love to put on their refrigerators!

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Giant Heart- Submitted by Sherry

Newspaper, paints, yarn, staples

Open the newspaper and trace a giant heart. Cut out and staple about six sheets together to give it strength. Leave the top open. Kids can stuff the heart with crumpled newspaper and help staple the top closed with a yard loop for hanging. Kids paint with red, white and pink paint or as desired.

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Heart Stickers- Submitted by Sherry

Encourage your youngsters to spread a little love this Valentine's Day with this easy activity. To prepare, cut hearts in several sizes from red, pink, and white shelf paper (the type that clings but doesn't stick permanently). For each child, peel the backing off a few hearts and stick them onto a sterilized foam tray. Take your litte ones on a walk around your school and have them stick hearts on the walls, windows, and doors of other classrooms. The toddlers are here, spreading love and cheer!

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